Metallic Bonding

What is metallic bonding?

The electrons in the outer shell of a metal atom are delocalised. There are strong forces of electrostatic attraction between the positive metal ions and the negative electrons. These forces of attraction hold the atoms together in a regular structure.

What substances are held together with metallic bonding?

Metallic elements and alloys

What produces the properties of metals?

Delocalised electrons

Why do metallic substances have a high melting and boiling points?

The electrostatic forces between the meal atoms and the delocalised sea of electrons are very strong, so need lots of energy to be broken down

What does having a high boiling and melting point mean for metallic bonding state wise?

This means they are generally solid at room temperature

Why are metals good conductors of electricity?

The delocalised electrons carry electrical charge and thermal energy through the whole structure

Why are most metals malleable?

The layers of atoms in a metal can slide over each other

Why are alloys harder than pure metals?

Different elements have different sized atoms so when another element is mixed with a pure metal, the new metal atoms will distort the layers of metal atoms making it more difficult for them to slide over each other.

What are alloys?

A mixture of two or more metals